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Browns' offense leans on preparation from practice during game-winning drive

Deshaun Watson led the Browns 36 yards to set up the game-winning field goal against the Steelers

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Before QB Deshaun Watson took the field with the game tied 24-24 and under two minutes remaining, K Andre Szmyt made the goal for the Browns' offense clear — move the ball to Pittsburgh's 42-yard line. Szmyt told Watson all he needed was a 60-yard field goal attempt. 

"If they sent me out there, then they're expecting me to make it," Szmyt said. "But I told them, 60-yard (field goal), we're good." 

Cleveland's offense came through and did just that, orchestrating a seven play, 36-yard drive to put Szmyt in field goal range. Their execution on the final drive, which placed Szmyt in position for his game-winning 56-yard field goal, propelled them past the Steelers 27-24 in Week 4 on Thursday Night Football.

The success on the game-winning possession was forged from the Browns' preparation during practice and training camp through specific two-minute drills. Cleveland's offense also expanded their experience and confidence in those specific scenarios across their recent winning streak, which have forced them to become comfortable in similar situations.

As the Steelers drove the ball down the field with under four minutes remaining in the game on their game-tying touchdown drive, Watson said the coaching staff was preparing for each possible scenario. They were going over potential plays in different situations, all of which were implemented in the week's gameplan. The preparation quickly turned towards executing a two-minute drill after Steelers' QB Aaron Rodgers tied the game with a quarterback sneak on a 2-point conversion with 1:46 remaining.  

"Once they scored and tied it up, it's like, 'This is what we practice,'" Watson said.  We practice it every week. We practice two-minute every day, so get to our spot." 

Towards the end of nearly every training camp practice in the lead up to the season, the Browns practiced two-minute drills and simulated late-game field goal scenarios. Those late-game drills served as the staple ending to head coach Todd Monken's practices. That preparation was what the Browns' offense leaned on when they took the field with the chance to win the game against the Steelers.

"It definitely helps," G Zion Johnson said. "Two minute is a pressing situation, you got to be on the ball, you got to go. So having that experience in practice and from past games, it allows you to be a little bit calmer and more confident in those situations."

There was also a conviction amongst the Browns' offense on the final drive because they had been in the situation before. During the previous two games against the Buccaneers and Panthers, Watson led late go-ahead fourth quarter touchdown drives. There was a sense of familiarity when the Browns set out for a third straight go-ahead possession late in the fourth quarter against the Steelers. 

"I feel like it was just belief," T Spencer Fano said. "We'd already done it the last two weeks, and so we just believed in that huddle that we were going to be able to get it done."

On the final drive, Watson connected with WR Jerry Jeudy twice for 27 yards. After being held to one reception for nine yards on the Browns' first 11 offensive possessions, Jeudy delivered in one of the game's biggest moments. 

"Those moments like that, talking to Jerry (Jeudy), 'Hey your opportunity is going to come, I'm going to need you,' and he showed up tonight and made some big catches late in the fourth quarter and third quarter," Watson said. 

Following an incomplete pass intended for WR KC Concepcion Jr. on third-and-8, with 15 seconds remaining in the game, the Browns were on Pittsburgh's 38-yard line to set up a 56-yard field goal attempt. Szmyt told Watson the offense did more than he had asked for. 

As Szmyt lined up for the game-winning kick, DE Adin Huntington knew Szmyt had what it took. He didn't have any doubt about the result. 

 "I knew he wasn't going to miss that kick," Huntington said. "Ain't no way."

And neither did Szmyt. 

"As soon as I hit it and I looked up, I knew it was good," Szmyt said.

Browse action photos from the Browns' 2026 Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, featuring top plays and moments.

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